Connecting bar



April 2, 1968 D; E. ANDREWS ETAL 3,376,002

CONNECTING BAR Filed March 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ...far/9.3

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CONNECTING BAR Filed March 1965 u ML!! 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVENTORS Fa/Vf', @NF/@5ms ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,376,002 CONNECTING BAR Donald E. Andrews, Cambridge, Md., and Richard C. Carmean, Deerfield, Mich., assiguors to Cambridge Wire Cloth Company, Cambridge, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Mar. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 437,439 17 Claims. (Cl. 24S-6) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A connecting bar for connecting adjacent intermeshed transversely `disposed spirals of a woven wire conveyor belt including a rod having a seat means of varying depth cut transversely therein for receiving the arcuate vertices of the convolutions of adjacent spirals, the seat means having longitudinal axis which is arcuate in longitudinal profile and which intersects opposite transverse sides of the rod.

This invention relates to a woven Wire fabric such as used in conveyor belts and more particularly to an improved connecting bar for connecting the adjacent, intermeshed, transversely disposed spirals or coils of the woven wire conveyor belt.

Heretofore, it was assumed that the connecting bars, comprising longitudinally extending rods, must necessarily have means for restraining the lateral movement of the spirals, such as seats. Accordingly, in order to improve the seating characteristics of the rod, consideration has been given to attempts to make the `seats fully receive the heical angle of the coils or spirals as measured through the vertices or end portions of each convolution thereof. Such attempts have involved making the transverse seat suiciently wide or even outwardly flared to accommodate the helical angle. Likewise, somewhat narrower seats have been diagonally transversely cut in the rod to accommodate the helical angle, as disclosed in the patent to Hooper, 2,885,164, of May 5, 1959. In each instance, however, the transverse seat has a flat bottom and consequently only engages the vertex of each convolution at the two longitudinallv disposed extremities of the seat.

Certain difficulties, however, have been found in these attempts to provide a satisfactory seating means, especially in high temperature belts, resulting from problems created by excessive wear, deformation, and elongation. As the woven wire conveyor belt is subjected to load, the vertices of the spirals attempt to conform to the configuration of the seat, which in this case comprises a substantially flat bottom. Naturally this change in configuration subjects the spiral to wear and deformation which necessarily reduces the life of the belt. Most metals, and particularly metals used at high temperatures, can withstand a certain measured amount of deformation before failure, but if this amount of deformation is expended during the breakin period of the belt, the total belt life must of necessity be shortened. .t

Straight tracking `with high temperature belts can be quite important. When a belt is deformed, it often causes a higher rate of elongation of the belt which in turn affects the tracking ability of the belt. It will also be appreciated that when the belt must plastically deform to adjust itself to the rod, the deformattion is not necessarily uniform. This non-uniform deformation produces a belt which does not track Well.

ln the seat described above with a fiat bottom, there is only two-point contact with the vertex of each convolution prior to the deformation. Moreover, there are configurations, such as an annular groove extending around the rod, as disclosed in the patent to Hale, 2,447,613, of

Aug. 24, 1948, in which there is only a single-point con- 3,376,0(12 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 tact. The radius of the rod in Hale must be of equal or smaller radius than the radius of the vertex of the spiral so that the rod can be inserted through each convolution. Accordingly, the seat, being a groove cut annularly in the rod, must have a smaller radius than the vertex of the spiral thereby establishing point contact. Such a seat subjects the belt to wear and distortion and a high rate of elongation resulting in the problems heretofore mentioned.

If the belt is of a type, such as disclosed in the Hale patent, whereby if the belt iiexes around a turn, one of the two interconnected vertices must be cammed out of the groove, a further factor is encountered which results in greater elongation. Each time the belt cams out of the groove, the pitch of the rods becomes shortened and the belt becomes more taut thereby stretching the belt. Furthermore, the camming in and out of the groove produces a jerky motion which will be longitudinally imparted to the belt. If the belt is designed to carry small or delicate parts in an upright position, this vertical motion will tend to knock over these parts thereby making the belt an unsatisfactory means of conveyance. Moreover, if the spirals are elongated into a flattened condition in grooves such as disclosed in the Hale patent, it would be extremely difficult to remove the rods in order to shorten the belt by eliminating a spiral section.

Therefore, it is the broad object of this invention to overcome these prior defects in connecting rods and provide a seating means which will substantially fully seat the vertices of each convolution of the spirals so as to provide a conveyor belt offexcellent moving characteristics.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a seat means which establishes linear contact with the vertex of each convolution substantially throughout the length of the seat means. It is still a further object of this invention to have a seat means which provides area contact with the arcuate vertex of each convolution of the spiral partially throughout the length of the seat means and in one embodiment of the invention substantially throughout the length of the seat means.

By providing either area or substantial linear contact between the seat and the vertex of each convolution, the spirals will seat on the rods in such a manner that little deformation will be needed to conform to the configuration of the seat. It is realized that manufacturing variances may require a little deformation, but certainly this improved seat reduces the wear, distortion, and elongation of the belt considerably in comparison to the belts utilizing conventional seat means on the connecting rods. A much more etiicient and useful belt will be provided with good tracking characteristics.

Describing the seat means more specifically, it will be seen that it is an object of this invention to provide a connecting bar for connecting adjacent transversely disposed spirals of a woven wire conveyor belt comprising a rod adapted to extend through the arcuate vertices of alternate convolutions of adjacent spirals, the rod having a longitudinally arcuate seat means of varying depth cut transversely therein for receiving the arcuate vertices of the convolutions. t

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved connecting bar comprising more specifically a rod having annular' cross-sectional area generated by a first radius and adapted to extend through the arcuate vertices of alternate convolutions` of adjacent spirals, the rod having a plurality of longitudinally radiused seats cut transversely therein for receiving the arcuate vertices of the convolutions of each spiral, the radius center of each seat being disposed from the radius center of the rod. Preferably, the radius of the seat is approximately equal to the radius by which the arcuate vertices of the convolutions of the spiral are generated so that each seat will engage a vertex of the convolution substantially throughout the length of the seat.

It is another object of this invention to provide a connecting bar comprising a rod having a longitudinally radiused seat wherein the seat is configured to accommodate the diagonal inclination of the helical angle of the vertex of each convolution.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a longitudinally radiused or arcuate seat additionally having an arcuate transverse configuration throughout its length to provide area contact between the seat and the Vertex of the convolution of the spiral.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a longitudinally radiused or arcuate seat additionally having an arcuate transverse configuration inthe area of its longitudinal center providing area contact between the seat and the vertex of the convolution of the spiral, the arcuate transverse configuration merging into a fiat transverse configuration towards the longitudinal extremities of the seat thus providing only linear contact.

These and other objects of this invention are more clearly depicted in the following detailed description having specific reference to the attached drawings in which the embodiments of the invention are shown, not to limit the scope of the invention in any respect but so that the principles thereof might be more clearly demonstrated.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conveyor belt using the improved connecting bars;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a combined top and side elevational view of the bar having one type of seat means;

FIGURE 4 is a combined top and side elevational view of the bar having another type of seat means;

FIGURE 5 is a combined top and side elevational view of the bar having still another type of seat means;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing a pair of vertices of adjacent spirals seated on a connecting bar of the type disclosed in the prior art;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of a pair of vertices of adjacent spirals seated on the improved connecting bar;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of vertices of adjacent spirals shown seated on the improved connecting bar and subjected to stress;

FIGURE 9 is a plan and side elevational view of a modification of the type of seat means disclosed in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a plan and side elevational view of a modification of the seat means disclosed in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE l1 is a plan and side elevational view of a modication of the type of seat means disclosed in FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary plan view of a m'odied improved connecting bar shown with the waviness exaggerated;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan View of a different type of conveyor belt using the improved connecting bars;

FIGURE 14 is a combined top and side elevational view of one type of improved connecting bar which could be used in combination with the conveyor belt disclosed in FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of vertices of adjacent spirals shown seated on the improved connecting bar of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary View of a woven wire conveyor belt comprised of a plurality of adjacent intermeshed transversely disposed spirals 22, preferably alternately consisting of spirals of right-hand or clockwise twist 24 and spirals of left-hand or counterclockwise twist 26. The spirals 22 are connected together by a connecting bar 28 so as to form the woven wire conveyor belt 20.

As disclosed more fully in FIGURE 2, the spiral 22 is perferably somewhat elongated or flattened and cornprises a plurality of helical convolutions or turns 30 of wire. Each convolution 30 has a pair of side elements 32 and a pair of longitudinally disposed vertices or end portions 34. Each spiral 22, and accordingly each vertex, has a diagonally inclined helical angle shown best in FIGURE 1 at 35. In the preferred form of the invention the side elements 32 are substantially parallel and each vertex 34 is at least partially arcuate or radiused as this is the easiest, and most practical, manner in which to form the spirals. The connecting =bar 28 is adapted to extend through the arcuate vertices 34 of alternate convolutions 30 of adjacent spirals 22.

As shown in FIGURES 3 through 5 each connecting bar 28 comprises a connecting rod 36 having a plurality of seats 38 thereon adapted to receive the vertices 34 of the spinal. The seats 38 are shown longitudinally disposed from each other along the length of the rod 36 and are alternately disposed on opposite sides of the rod for alternately receiving the vertices 34 of the convolutions of adjacent intermeshed spirals 22. These iigures disclose various means for accommodating the diagonally inclined helical angle 35, shown in FIGURE l, which is inherent in the vertices of a spiral.

Accordingly, FIGURE 3 discloses a seat 38a having a traverse configuration of constant width 40a. 'Ihe width 40a of seat 38a is sufficiently wide for fully seating the helical angle of the vertices of each convolution. In FIGURE 4 the seat 38h likewise has a constant width 40h which, however, is less wide than that disclosed in FIGURE 3. The seat 38b is diagonally transversely cut in the rod 36 with the diagonal corresponding to the diagonal inclination of the helical angle of the vertices of each convolution.

On the other hand, FIGURE 5 discloses a seat 38C having a transverse configuration of varying width 40C. Accordingly, it will be seen in the plan View that the longitudinal edges 42c defining the seat flare outwardly from a minimum width at the longitudinal center 44C of the seat. In other words, the transverse width 40e of each seat decreases from a maximum Width at the extremities 46c of the seat to a minimum width at the longitudinal center 44C of the seat for accommodating the diagonal inclination of the helical angle of the vertices of each convolution. It is within the scope of the invention to have any other type of transverse configuration for the seat which would accommodate the helical angle of the vertices of the spiral so that there would be substantial linear contact throughout the length of the seat between the seat and the vertex of the convolution engaged thereby.

As disclosed in FIGURE 6, however, substantial linear contact between the seat and the vertices of the convolution is impossible without excessive distortion of the vertices if a flat seat 48 is used. As disclosed in FIGURE 6, which represents the prior art, the seat initially engages t-he vertices at two points 50 thereby providing only minimal contact between the seat and the spiral.

Accordingly, this invention involves forming the seat 38 with an arcuate configuration along its longitudinal axis shown at 53a, 53h, and 53C in 4FIGURES 3, 4, and 5, respectively, and viewed more specifically in section in FIGURE 7. Inasrnuch as the rod is annular and inasmuch as the longitudinally arcuate seat is cut transversely in the rod intersecting the surface of the rod in two places, it will Ibe seen that the seat itself has a varying depth 52. Furthermore, it is desirable for each seat to have a longitudinal configuration substantially coresponding to the configuration of the vertices of the convolutions so as to prevent excessive deformation in fully seating the vertices on the rod.

As disclosed more specifically in FIGURE 7, the rod 36 has an annular cross-sectional area 54 generated by a rst radius 56. Likewise the arcuate vertices of each convolution have a second radius designated as 58. The

longitudinal configuration of the seats are preferably generated by a third radius 60 having a radius center 62 disposed from the radius center 64 of the rod. It is obvious that it is preferable to have the radius 60 of the seat equal to the radius 58 by which the arcuate vertices of the configurations of the spirals are generated so that each seat will engage the vertex of the convolution throughout the length of the seat. It will be appreciated, however, that the tolerances allowed in the most economical manufacture of the connecting rods and the spirals do not always result in the radius of the seat being equal to the radius of the vertex. In some instances the radius of the seat may be larger, and in `other instances it may be smaller. Nevertheless, the overall longitudinal configuration of the seat corresponds substantially to the arcuate configuration of the vertex so that the distortion which occurs when the vertex is forced into a fully seated position on the seat is kept to a minimum.

FIGURE 8 shows the convolution in a distorted position when the conveyor is drawn extremely taut or is subjected to very heavy loads. It will be seen that the distance 66 between the side elements 32 of the convolution is approximately equal to the diameter of the rod. It can easily be seen that if the seat took the configuration of an annular groove cut in the rod, the distance 66 between the side elements would probably be less than the diameter of the rod, inasmuch as the vertices of the spiral would fully conform to the grooved seat. Therefore, it would be extremely difficult to remove the rod from the conveyor belt if it were desirable to remove one spiral section.

Up to this point consideration has only been given to establishing substantial linear contact throughout the length of the seat between the seat and the vertex. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide area contact between the seat and the vertex, as disclosed in FIGURES 9, and 11, by providing the seat with an arcuate transverse configuration as at 68, preferably substantially conforming to the configuration of the transverse -circumference of the vertices 34 of the spirals 22. FIGURE 9 shows the use of a transversely arcuate seat in combination with a seat cut diagonally transversely across the rod while FIGURE 10 discloses the transversely arcuate seat in combination with a flared seat. In each instance the seat is shown having an arcuate transverse configuration in the area of its longitudinal center 70 which gradually merges into a fiat transverse configuration towards the longitudinal extremities 72 of the seat thus providing only linear contact at this point. On the other hand, FIGURE l1 shows a longitudinally arcuate or radiused seat cut diagonally transversely across the rod having an arcuate transverse configuration 68 throughout its length. Accordingly, the depth 74 of the seaty as measured along its transverse center and the width 76 of the seat decrease from a maximum at the longitudinal center 78 of the seat to a minimum at each longitudinal extremity 80 of the seat.

It will be appreciated that the provision of a transversely arcuate seat is the most desirable manner of retarding lateral movement of the spiral on the rod to insure straight tracking. Furthermore, the provision of a longitudinal arcuate configuration corresponding to the longitudinal arcuate configuration of the vertices minimizes the distortion to which the spiral must be subjected in fully seating itself on the rod.

While the rod disclosed in FIGURES 3 through 5 and FIGURES 9 and 10 is a straight rod, it is within the scope of this invention to provide a rod 82 having a slight waviness, such as disclosed in exaggeration in FIGURE 11, with the seats 38 formed in the valleys 84 thereof. Furthermore, other wavy configurations might naturally occur in the rod from the manner in which the seats are impressed in the rod.

FIGURES 1-12 disclose an improved connecting bar in Which the seats are longitudinally disposed from each a balanced weave. The scope of this -invention is not other along the length of the rod and are alternately disposed on opposite sides of the rod for alternately receiving the vertices of the convolutions of ,adjacent spirals. The spirals are intermeshed and are connected to each other through the rod. Such a woven wire fabric is called necessarily limited, however, to balanced weaves.

For instance, as shown in FIGURES 13-15 the improved connecting bar could be used with a woven wire fabric called a rod reinforced weave in which the intermeshed spirals 86 are also interconnected. Accordingly, the purpose of the connecting bar is to reinforce the weave. The connecting bar comprises a rod 88 having a plurality of pairs of Seats 90. Each pair of seats 90 is longitudinally disposed from the adjacent pair of seats along the length of the rod. Unlike the balanced-weave rod, the seats of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of the rod and are transversely aligned. The seats may take any of the configurations disclosed heretofore having a longitudinally arcuate configuration of varying depth for receiving the arcuate vertices of the convolutions. l

While a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and discussed above, it should be adequately clear that considerable modification may be made thereto without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing should be considered in an illustrative sense rather than a limiting sense, and accordingly the extent of this invention should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A connecting bar for connecting adjacent intermeshed transversely disposed spirals of a woven wire conveyor belt comprising:

a rod adapted to extend through the arcuate vertices of alternate convolutions of adjacent spirals, the rod having seat means of varying depth cut transversely therein for receiving the arcuate vertices of the convolutions, the seat means having a longitudinal axis which is arcuate in longitudinal profile and which intersects opposite transverse sides of the rod.

2. The connecting bar defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of seats are longitudinally disposed from each other along the length of the rod and are alternately disposed on opposite sides of the rod for alternately receiving the vertices of the convolutions of adjacent intermeshed spirals.

3. The connecting bar defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of pairs of seats are provided, each pair being longitudinally disposed from each other along the length of the rod, the seats of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of the rod in transverse alignment for receiving the intermeshed transversely disposed spirals of the woven wire conveyor belt.

4. A connecting bar for connecting adjacent intermeshed transversely disposed spirals of a woven wire conveyor belt comprising:

a rod having an annular cross-sectional area generated by a first radius and adapted to extend through the arcuate vertices of alternate convolutions of adjacent spirals, the rod having a plurality of seats cut transversely therein, said seats being radiused in the transverse direction with respect to the rod for receiving the arcuate vertices of the convolutions of each spiral, the radius center of each seat being disposed from the radius center of the rod.

5. The connecting bar defined in claim 4 wherein the radius of each seat is approximately equal to the radius by which the arcuate vertices of the convolutions of the spiral are generated so that each seat will engage a vertex of the convolution substantially throughout the length of the seat.

6. The connecting bar defined in claim 4 wherein the transverse configuration of each seat is arcuate at least partially throughout the length of the seat.

7. The connecting bar defined in claim 6 wherein the seat has an arcuate transverse configuration in the vicinity of its longitudinal center which gradually merges into a fiat transverse configuration at the longitudinal extremities of the seat.

8. The connecting bar defined in claim 6 wherein the seat has an arcuate transverse configuration throughout its length, the seat having maximum depth and width at its longitudinal center which decrease toward the longitudinal extremities of the seat.

9. The connecting bar defined in claim 4 wherein each seat has a transverse configuration of constant width.

10. The connecting bar defined in claim 9 wherein each seat is sufficiently wide for fully seating the helical angle of the vertex of each convolution.

11. The connecting bar defined in claim 9 wherein each Seat is `diagonally transversely cut in the rod, the diagonal alignment corresponding to the diagonal inclination of the helical angle of the vertex of each convolution.

12. The connecting bar defined in claim 3 wherein each seat is ldiagonally transversely cut in the bar and has an arcuate transverse configuration at least partially throughout the length of the seat, the diagonal alignment corresponding to the diagonal inclination of the helical angle of the vertex of each convolution.

13. The connecting bar defined in claim 4 wherein each seat has a transverse configuration of varying width.

14. The connecting bar defined in claim 13 wherein the transverse width of each seat decerases from a maximum width at the longitudinal extremities of the seat to a minimum width at the longitudinal center of the seat for accommodating the diagonal inclination of the helical angle of the vertex of each convolution.

15. The connecting bar defined in claim 4 wherein the plurality of seats are longitudinally disposed from each other along the length of the rod and are alternately disposed on opposite sides of the rod for alternately receiving the vertices of the convolutions of adjacent intermeshed spirals.

16. The connecting bar defined in claim 4 wherein a plurality of pairs of seats are provided, each pair being longitudinally disposed from each other along the length of the rod, the seats of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of the rod in transverse alignment for receiving the intermeshed transversely disposed spirals of the woven wire conveyor belt.

17. A connecting bar for connecting adjacent intermeshed transversely disposed spirals of a woven wire conveyor belt comprising:

a rod adapted to extend through the vertices of alternate convolutions of adjacent spirals, each vertex being at least partially arcuate, the rod having a plurality of seats cut transversely ltherein for receiving the vertices of the convolutions, said seats being radiused in the transverse direction with respect to the rod whereby each seat has a longitudinal configuration substantially corresponding to the configuration of the vertices of the convolutions so as to prevent excessive deformation in fully seating the vertices on the rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,282,171 10/1918 Barnes 24S-2 1,961,317 6/1934 Werme et al 24S-l0 2,158,590 5/1939 Pink 245-6 3,202,387 8/ 1965 Andrews et al. 245-6 3,276,570 10/1966 Hale et al 245-6 RICHARD I. HERBST, Primary Examiner. 

